Admin 01-001 Registration of Fire Departments & Other Emergency Service Providers

Richmond, Nova Scotia

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POLICY REGISTRATION OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDERS APPROVAL DATE: APRIL 13, 1999 WHEREAS the new Municipal Government Act includes a requirement that municipal units establish a registration system for fire service providers and emergency service providers, effective April 1, 1999; AND WHEREAS the registration process will require that municipalities establish a criteria for evaluating applications for registration; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the following be hereby adopted by the Municipality of the County of Richmond as the policy for the registration of fire departments and other emergency service providers: ( 1) the Municipality hereby establishes a registry of fire departments and emergency service providers; (2) all applications for registration that are approved by Municipal Council will be recorded in a central record of registry; (3) applications should be in the format attached as Addendum "A"; ( 4) applicants must provide confirmation of public liability insurance; (5) applicants must indicate that they are capable of providing the services for which they are making application. Council will consider five years experience to be a minimum standard; ( 6) the applicant must undertake to provide Council with an annual budget, a financial statement of the prior year's revenues and expenditures, and confirmation that they have carried out an annual public meeting to notify their community of the proposed fire area rate for the current year; (7) the applicants must indicate the communities or areas that they wish to protect; (8) the applicant must indicate whether or not they are an incorporated body, and the type of incorporation; (9) the registration of a fire department or emergency service provider will remain in effect until withdrawn by the Municipality for cause, or on the request of a department, that is, it is a one time application. ADDENDUM "A" Application ror Registration as 1 Fire Department or Emergency Services Provider under the Munlctpal Government Aet MUNICIPALITY OF RICHMORD COUNTY Contact/ Address: Required Insurance Held: Communities or area protected by this registration: ___________ _ Please indicate the service that the department will endeavour to provi&; Ind the level of :.;~;-v~~- by placing an X in the appropriate Stnactanl DeftlllM NIA 1. Fire 10d Fire Related lmqeada D Registered Pint laponw Medlal Asmtuee 2. Medical Emergeades D D Tecbnlelu Opentlmall Awareness 3. Veldde llaeae D D 4. WaterRelale D D D 5. Ice Raetae D D D 6. Structural /Elcavadoa Collapn D D D 7. 8. Huardous Materials Provider D D Anlmaee D D 9. Ground Search and Resat · D l 0. Other. Man made and natural disasten for which the service bu the training. equipment llld command system to uncfaitlke. Please refer to the "Evaluation or Servlca Provided and Level of Servk:e" Iaformadoa attached, In 1nswerln1 the rono,vtng quatiou: 11. he there limits on the level of service that will be provided in respect to my of the services checked above? If so, please indicate: 12. Does the department have the equipment to perform the aervica checked above? 13. Does the department have the training or experience necessary to patbrm the savicea checked above? Date: Signature orDepart.ment Represeotmves < 2 > Please note: Explanation of the terminology ued m dm resistn.tion Conn is provided m the attached message from the F'ue Manhll (Addendum 11B"). To ~. a department must be incorporated and hold any valid liability imurmce dw ii required by mumdpll policy. The department must operate on a not-for-profit bam. The reafmtion does not make the department an asent of the municipality. Thi.I registration may be modified by notifying the municlpality thirty days in advance. The municipality may revoke tis registration for C1UN. Evaluation or Servkes Provided and Lffd of Saffl for Uee wlda Application for Reclstradon as a Ftre Department or lmergency Senket Provider under the Municipal Gonrnmmt Ad . Information From the Office of die Fire Manbal 1be registration of a rued~ or emergency services provider ii a replacement for the fire wards system. The process recopizcs that fire dcpartmeots may wry on a wider variety of services then under the previous Act. The following is a direct quote from National Ftte Protection Association Standard 1500: Spcllln& out the speclnc parameters of services to be provided allows the ftre department to plan, staff, equip, train, and deploy memben to perform dM'.le dutl& It also &Ives the &ovemlna body an accountma of the costs of services and llows It to Rlect those senka they can afford to provide. Ukewlse, the aovernlnc body shoalcl ldentify senkes It cumot afford to provide and that It cannot register the department to deliver. There are a number of fire departments who have expressed concem that they coukl be prevented from attending at cmeracocies in their communities. The repumoa should not therefor be an all or nothing situation. The responding department may not have the training, equipment or command system to fully handle the situation. The departmeot may. however. be· able to provide assistance to the victims until more qualified help does arrive. This 1ewl of serrice can be indicated upon rcgisterin&, in 1 1euer form or on the rqistratioG Corm. by a DOCe lndicadD& a limit on the level of service to be provided, or by a D0(e swine whit, il dlie ddhudom provided below, will not be provided. To assist the fire service and dlc municlpa1 units, the Office of die Fire Mmhal bu developed a registration form that includes a check list for services m:id level of abilidet. This dlect lilt was developed with the assistance of the Fire Offlcen ~ din.don. The me of 1bis form ii not compulsory. Each municipality may develop its own registrldoa proceu in~ wida the Municipal Govemmtnt Act, although it is DO(ed that it is the daft of the fire service adYuory group that there should be one common system rather than 55. The Office of the Fire Manha.I will not be nall.'Udbaa Dre ~ti; the ~ process Is between the mumdpallty and the fll'e deputmeat. The standards selected are from the National Ft.re Protecdoa Aaocladoa 1500 ltaDdml for Firefighter 0ccupatioml Health and Safety. The by to dus standard Ii tblt. - no adivity ii undertaken unless the benefit out weighs die risk-, for example. items such u a minhllma four person crew for interior attack should be followed except where a rescue of someone inside die building is possible. The NFPA lSOO doaUDell lbouJd be 1be comer stone upon which eada ftre department attempts to meet die h1abest standard of safety. There are sections such u physical fitness requirements and recruiting that may require a different approach by the fire ~ Definltloa of Terms Used In the Reglmtioa Form 1. Fire and Fire Related Emeraendes: Structural: means the activities of rescue, fire suppression. and property comemdoa la buildings. enclosed structures, vehicles, vessels, or lib properties that are involved la a fire or emergency situation. Departments should have ftreflpten trained to NFPA 1001, protective personal equipment, down alums, accountability system, adequate war. supply, pumping capacity and an incident command system. Departments lhould also me the proper training and protective cloehirag for wild land fires In accordance widl die Department of Natural Resources' provincial standard. Shipboald fireftgbdng, if pnwfdcd. should be carried out followins the NFPA standard 1405 1996 Editioa Guide for Land-Based Fire Fighters \Vbo Respood to Marine Vessel Ara. Protection of Airenft at airports by volunteers, if provided, should be in accordance with Transport Cmtda guidelines. Derenslve: means actions that are intended to control a fire by limiting Its spread to 1 defined area, avoiding the commitment of penomiel and equipmeot co·dangercus area. Defensive operations are generally performed from die exterior of structures ud are bued on a determination that the risk to penonnel exceeds the potential beneftb of offemlve actions. rue departments without die ability to carry out ltNCtUnl ~ IIIIJ register as providin& propeny pr.-cdoo throqh defemive suategiel. blcae ny lie undertaken if the benefit wamnas die risk. Departments should have proper traWna 11d protective clothfn& for wild land fires in ~ with the DepartJnem of Nabnl Resources- provi:ocill ~ N/ A: means the department does not respond to dlele caDI. 2. Medical Emergendes: response to known medical emergencla. Repstered Fb:st Responder: means responders reptered with die Department of Health through EHS first responder prop.m and respond to medical calls or provide medical assistance at the scene of an~- Medical Assbtance: means respondcn who nve standard or emeraency fine lid and respond to medical emer1eocia or provide medk:aJ assistance at I response iDci4ea. Equipment includes a first aid kit. 3. to 7. The followln1 termlnolo11 II used In respect to -elude n.tcae, watu rescue, Ice rescue, structural/excavation collapse and hip anp NSCDe: These activitiet should be carried out la acxordance with NFPA 1670 Standard for Rescue, 1999. Generally these terms mean: Technician: First responders at the technicians level a, thole persom who respond, u either initial call out or as a mutual aid relpOlle to contain and comrol the incident. This level of service usually will provide a high degree of intervention Operadom: Fmt responders at the operatioas level are dM>Se penom who respond as the initial response to an incident Cot the purpose of protectina nearby persons, the environment, or property from the effects of the it'ddeat. Fmt responders at the operations level ue expected to respond in I defensive fashion to control, prevent a woneni.ng of the incident and provide servica withia their capabilities. Awareness: First responders at the awareness level arc those persons who, in the course of their normal duties. could be the first on the scene of aa emergency. First responders at the awareness level are expected to l?COph:e the situation. call for trained personnel, secure the area. and provide minimum iatervention. Refer to Standard 1670, but, for example, these terms mean: 3. Vehicle Rescue: means removal of victims from a vebiclc followia& an accident. This may require elaborate or simple toots and knowledge dependin& UlX)n lbe incident. The first responder should be aware of the departments abilities and when it ii oocemry to request a higher level of service. Ttehnlclan: properly maintained complete set of heavy hydrallc e~ equipment mi associated spreaders. cutters, num, cbaim, cribbin& etc. 81d trained a a team to use the equip~ m:opiz.e bumds ml proud the victim. ~.ntlou: properly maintamed hand tooll. manual 1tydraulk tools, air ~ and trained as a team to use the equipment. recognize bazlrdl and protect the vic:dm. - Awareness: Does not have the equipment for extrication but docs respond to motor vehicle accidents. 4. Water Rescue: means rescue of indiriduall from riven, laka, poadl, Ind may include body retrieval. T«hniclan: survival suits, water rescue kit.. if diviD& ii provi1ed- appropriate equipmeat for conditions, a boat including life jackdl. Training to a leYa for the service provided.. either surface rescue or diving. Ropes and other similar~ mould meet NFPA. 1983 Standard on Fire Service Ufe Safety Rope and Sy1tem Components 199S Edition. Operations: approved life jackets for each rescuer. throw ropes, life rina with rope, a boat. Training should include boatiaa safety. Ropes and odler similar equipment should meet NFP A 1983 Standard on Fare Service Ule Safety Rope and Sy1tem CompoDenrl 1995 Edition. A wanness: Responds but does not have the equipment or IJ'liniD&. S. Ice Rescue: Rescue of individuals from extremely cold water or ice Tecbnldan: full ice rescue kit including floatation lllit md ice board or equivalent. Training for cold water rescue. Ropes and other sinu1ar equipment should meet NFPA 1983 Standard on rrre Service Ufe Safety Rope and System Components 1995 Edition. Operations: approved life jackets for each rescuer, throw ropes, life ring with rope. Trained respecting safety of rescuer ml victim. Ropes and Ofhel' similar equipment should meet NFPA 1983 Standard on F'll'C Service Life Safety Rope mi System Components 1995 Ed~ I Awareness: Responds but does not have the equipment or IJ'liniD&. 6. Structural/ Excavation Collapse: rescue of persons for collapsed ditches, etc. or collapsed structures. There are five levels of service-each department shook! examine the document to determine their own level of ability. Ttdmlclan: providina this service should meet the full requirements of NFPA 1670. Operadom: provides a medium level of service in ~ to NFP A 1670. Awareness: assists visible victims; prevmas further colllple. 7. ffi&h Angle Rescue: Rescue of persons from buildiog faces, clift'J trees or other 1ocadom where individuals must be lowered or raised by the rescuer. - Tedmlclan: equipment recommended by and trainmg provided by - recognized hip qle rescue organization. Operations: Ropes and other similar equipment should med the NFPA Standard, gloves, protective clothing required for the partk:u1ar incident. Tnialng on knot tying. Awareness: aeaires the scene, stJbiliza Che incident. 8. Hazardous Materials: Response to chemical incidents. All levels should be in accordance with NFP A 472 1997 Edition Standard on Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents. Fuel spills such u oil, gas am diesel may be handled by all three levels if the spill is minor and stabilized. There is a wide rage of service, from a domestic oil spill to an upset gasoline tanker. The important fact is knowing the departments llmitatiom. Technician: Hazardous materials technicians are those persons who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous ma!erlals for the purpose of controlling the release. Hazardous materials technicians are expected to use specialized· chemical protedive clothing and specialized control equipment. Operations: First responders at the operations level are expected to respond in a defensive fashion to control the release from a safe distance and keep it from spreading. Awa~ness: Fll'St responders at the awareness level are those persons who, in the course of their normal duties. could be the first on the scene of an emergency involving hazardous materials. First responders at the awareness level are expected to recognize the presence of hazardous materials, protect themselves, call for trained personnel and secure the area. 9. Ground Search and Rescue: self explanatory. Provider: meets the Nova Scotia Emergency Measures Organization's provincial standard for SAR teams. - Assistance: members are under the control of a SAR team.